STRANGE FIRE ON FARM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 October 1928, Page 9

STRANGE FIRE ON FARM.

INiCENDIAKISM SUSPECTED. A haystack on -the property occupied by'Mr W. F. Hoskin, of Okaiawa, was destroyed by fire about midday yesterday and about three hours later he found a burning sack on the floor of the farmhouse kitchen just in time to stem an outbreak which would have probably destroyed the house also. Leaving during the morning, Mr Hoskin was away for several hours, but returned opportunely at. about three -o’clock in the afternoon to discover the outbreak in the kitchen and also that crockery and provisions had been thrown about the floor. 'So far as he knew no authorised person had been on the farm during his absence. Despite the evidence of a visit by mischief makers nothing of value was missing.

During the investigation of what appeared an instance of incendiarism a girl, aged 14, daughter of Air H. Hall, a neighbour of Air Hoskin, informed the police -she had seen the stack burning and that she saw two unknown men getting over the gate info Hoskin’s place. Constables Multan, Carroll and Townsend instituted in- , quiries throughout the district, but so far no -trace of the men has been discovered.